Though Briton Alexis Zegerman came to international attention via her supporting role in Mike Leigh's feature seriocomedy Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), the actress established her strongest and deepest roots in the theater, both on-stage and as a playwright. She attended London's famed Central School of Speech and Drama, then began turning out a series of acclaimed, award-winning plays including {+Noise}, productions at the {~Bush} and the {~Young Vic}, and a lengthy series of playlets for Britain's Radio 4.
Contact with Leigh came about as a product of her critical role in his play {+Two Thousand Years}; the director felt so impressed by her work that he tapped her for the role of Zoe, the subdued flatmate of main character Poppy (Sally Hawkins), in Happy-Go-Lucky. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide. 